Maple Leafs Ink Third Bruin for 2011

NOMINATE FOR ATHLETE OF THE WEEK

Yoder

GOSHEN — The Goshen College men's soccer team has picked up its third Bethany alumnus in the last seven weeks. That institution announced Monday that Bruin senior and 2010 first-team all-Northern Indiana Soccer Conference selection Joel Yoder has signed a letter of intent to continue his academic and soccer careers  just a few minutes up the road. Yoder joins Aaron Stiffney and Western Michigan transfer Jesse Ramer as Bethany graduates being added to the Goshen team in 2011; the 2010 roster featured three more former Bruins who are eligible to return in David Eigsti ('08), Lewis Caskey ('09) and Jordan Weaver ('09).

Yoder started for two years and earned three varsity letters in the Bruin midfield. During his tenure on the varsity, Bethany was 38-13-6, the winningest three year stretch since 1991-93. The Bruins' three NISC championships and 2010 sectional title during that span form a three-year title stretch unmatched in the 45 years of Bethany soccer. Individually, Yoder was named to both the all-NISC first team and the Indiana Soccer Coaches Association all-state team after his senior season.

The Maple Leafs will look to return to their Region-VIII-champion form of five years ago when the 2011 season commences in August. Goshen is coached by Tavi Mounsithiraj, the second-winningest coach in school history at 101-81-20 and 2006 NAIA Region VIII Coach of the Year, who will begin his 11th season at the helm in just more than two months. The Leafs compete in the Mid-Central College Conference, where they went 2-6 last season as part of a 5-14 campaign.